Indoor tanning, despite any negative publicity is still big business. At present the tanning industry publications are reporting it as a $2 billion-a-year industry in the United States alone. But, in spite of this, Indoor tanning still has health issues connected to it and in particular for women, as 70 percent of indoor tanners are girls and women, and as you may expect indoor tanning is especially popular among teenage girls. And because of these girls being teenagers, this has some health professionals concerned. But, isn’t   indoor tanning is just substituting one culprit for another, and if people are going to sunbathe when the weather is good, can’t they use an alternative when the weather is not so good? After all it is claimed that   indoor tanning is actually a way for the body to fight against some diseases, such as psoriasis or osteoporosis, because the UV rays assist the body in manufacturing the Vitamin D it needs to allay such conditions. So who is right and who is wrong about the use of tanning beds?

Tanning The Skin


Skin cancer rates have been rising steadily in the world since the early 1900s, now of course tanning beds were not around then so this must have started with overexposure to the suns rays. But of course as technology has progressed we have learnt how to mimic the sun for the purpose of tanning, and whilst it makes us look and feel good, the  dermatologists have warned for years that indoor tanning can cause skin cancer and should be avoided.  But, on the other hand, when  your skin is exposed to UV radiation -- whether from the sun or from an indoor tanning device -- it makes vitamin D, which as mentioned before can help against diseases. To make it even more confusing the arguments fly back and forth. For instance it is stated that the tanning industry claims of melanoma  mainly being caused by sunburn, and that "controlled" tanning helps prevent melanoma by building up the protective pigment melanin is misleading.
Then tanning industry itself counters that by claiming that indoor tanning is a safe way to maintain a "healthy glow" and that it carries little to no risk of cancer. So what are the risks?

Risk


Tanning either from the suns rays or a tanning bed may raise the risk of skin cancer, which I think is an undisputed claim now. But it is the long term exposure or even short term overexposure to the suns rays or artificial sources of ultraviolet light that contributes to the risk of developing skin cancer.  While many believe that indoor tanning is safer than outdoor tanning, it is obvious that some of the same risks are still going to be attached.

Opinion


At the end of the day sunburn is the main risk factor for skin damage, so you could actually claim it is  actually smarter to tan indoors, as you totally control your exposure time. Also, it appears that  in most studies conducted to date, indoor tanners and non-tanners have no statistically different risk of contracting skin cancer.  But where does that leave you as a person who wants to get a tan. My opinion is this, using a tanning bed is no different to sunbathing in that you need to limit your exposure so that you do not get burnt and if you use common sense then there is no reason why you should not be able to have a healthy glow.

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